A Pleasant Purge for a Roman Catholic, Epigram 97
On Romes Novelties, notwithſtanding her pretence of Antiquity.
ROme is ſtill vaunting of Antiquity,
Though all, or moſt in her be Novelty.
Her Popes, Arch-prelates, Prelates, Cardinals,
Arch-Deacons, Prebends, Deanes, Officialls,
Subdeacons, Readers, Clerkes, Acolythiſts,
Abbots, Abbeſſes, Priors, Maſſing-Prieſts,
Monke…, Friers, Nunnes of all ſorts, Anchorites,
Con…eſſors, …egats, Pard'ners, Jeſuites,
Chancellours, Vicars, Proctors, Commiſſaries,
Dataries, Chaplaines, are allzSee Wickliſſe. Dialog. l. 4. c. 15. 26. 33. to 39. Novelties
Not found in Scripture, mens late forgery.
Now ſince Rome theſe heraSee Bellarmin de Eccleſia l. 3. c. 2. Marſilius Patav. Defenſ. Pacis. part. 2. c. 2. Church cals, deemes only,
Her Chuch is but a Novelty built on
Mens fancies, not onbEpheſ. 2. 20. Mat. 16. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 5. 6. 7. Chriſt the Corne… ſtone:
Her blotting out the ſecond Commandement,
And doubling of the tenth, to give content.
Her monſtrous Tranſubſtan…tion,
Maſſe, Ladies Pſalters, h…lfe Communion;
Her drinking of Chriſts blood within the bread
She eates, and that … in the veines not ſhed;
Making, ado…g gods, Saints Images,
… Croſſes, Pixes, Crucifixes▪
Pray…s to God in unknowne Tongues: to Saints
Departed, who cannot heare their complaints;
Auricular confeſſion, exempting
Delinquent clerkes from juſtice of their King;
Election for mens fore-ſeene workes; freewill,
Falling from Grace, new Miracles wrought ſtill;
Her markes of a true Church, the Prieſts intent
Eſſentiall to make a true Sacrament,
Adoring of the hoſt conditionally,
If it in truth be turn'd to Chriſts body;
Saints ſeeing Prayers in the Looking-glaſſe
O'th' Trinity, to which mens prayers ſtill paſſe;
Her worſhipping of all things with Latry
(As Croſſe, ſpeare, Nayles, Thornes) which toucht Chriſts body;
Her Pictures of our Lady on a throne
Crown'd Queen of Heav'n, with Chriſt a little one
Held in her Armes: Her praying unto her,
cJure matris impera tuo delectiſ…imo filio Domino noſtro Jeſu Chriſto. Corona B. Mariae Virginis, Bonavent. Opera. Tom. 6. Romae. 1588. Inclina vultum Dei & Filii rui ſuper nos: COGE peccatoribus miſereri. Ibidem; Monſtra …e eſſe matrem; Jurematris IMPERA: Offic. B. Mariae.Command thy Sonne, ſhew thy ſelfe a Mother;
dSee Tho. Beacons Reliques of Rome.Reliques of her milk, haire, combs, Gowns, ſmocks (all
Still freſh, ſweete) ſinnes in nature veniall;
Prayer to Angels, Limbus, Purgatory,
Popes Indulgences, Pardons ſold for money,
For any ſinne; five new coyn'd Sacraments,
Her publicke ſtewes allow'd to raiſe Popes rents,
Her Merits, workes of ſupererogation;
Doubt, no certaine aſſurance of Salvation;
Popes right to both ſwords, their ſupremacy
Over all Perſons, Clergie, Laity:
Their excommunicating, depoſing,
Iudging, nay killing Kings, interdicting
Whole Kingdomes; abſolving from loyalty
And ſolemne oathes of that fidelity
Which ſubjects make unto their kings; arming,
Exciting ſubjects 'gainſt their lawfull King;
Proceſſions, Pilgrimages, reſervations
Of Hoſts in Pixes, with their elevations,
And Adorations: Lay men not to read
Gods Word: that it muſt be interpreted,
Confirm'd by Popes: that Romes Popes may diſpenſe
Againſt Gods word; controll the text, and ſenſe;
That Popes are above Councels generall,
And muſt confirme, nay over-rule, and call
Them of due right: that Councels cannot erre,
Nor Popes in Peters chaire, where they ſit ne're:
Saints canonizing; Romes rich Treaſaury
Of Merit, whereof Popes muſt keepe the key;
Caſes reſerved to his Sanctity,
Buls, Maſſes to free Soules from Purgatory,
Juſtification not by faith alone
But workes, more Mediators beſides one;
That Mary is the Churches Advocate,
Damning Prieſts marriage, vowing Celibate,
Saints Legends, Holi-dayes, ſtrict abſtinence
From meates at ſet dayes out of conſcience;
Bowing at Altars, ſhaving Prieſts, Nuns Crowns,
Great difference in habits, Coules, Frocks, Gowns,
Beades, Pater Noſters, Aves, ſayd by ſcore,
Yea Ave Mary Bels, not known afore
Time; Holy-water, Holy-bred, Candels
Burning at Noon-day;eSee Tho. Beacon of Exorciſmes and Conjurations. vol. 3. f. 101. to 133. Chriſtning, hallowing Bells,
Palmes, Churches, Church-yards, Altars, Chalices,
Salt, Spittle, Chriſme, Swords, Pals, Ro…bets, Abbees,
Copes, Altar-Cloathes; Organs, ſtrange Duckes, Bowings,
Nods, Geſtures, Ceremonies, and Croſſings;
Chaunting of Maſſes, praying toward the Eaſt,
Chuſing of ſome Saints more than all the reſt
For certaine Kingdomes, Countries, diſeaſes;
Cities, Profeſſions like the Pagans; theſe
With ſundry other things, are Novelties,
Not found in Scripture, but mens Forgeries▪
Ceaſe then thy Bragges Rome, thy Religion's new,
Vaine, falſe; ours onelyonly is old, ſaving, true.